Safety device for banks



Feb.' 13, 1923.

-VL J.v PRICE. A `SAFETY 'DEVLCE FOR BANKS.

FILED map24. l1921.

.rm Il QT...

@neuneu Feb. 13, 1923;

AERrcE.

SAFETY DEVICE Foa BANKS.

FILEDI MAR. 24. 192l. y .s SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Feb. 13, 1923.

' Vfl. PRICE.

SAEET'Y DEVICE FOR BANKS.y

3 sHEErsfsHEET 2..

FILED m. 24. |921.

Patented Feb. 13; 192s.

PATENT '.oFFICE.

VERNON J. PRICE, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

SAFETY DEVICE FOB BANKS. p

Application filed March 24, 1921. SeriaINo. 455,034.

' T 0 all :folio/mit may concern Be it known that I, VERNoN J. PRICE, a citizen( of the United States,` residingat Detroit, county of Wayne, State -of Michigan,

have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Safety Devices for Banks, and declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it lo pertains to make and use the same, reference.

being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a safety device -for banks and its principal object is to, provide an instantly actuated bullet proof metallic screen adapted to form abarricade in frontl protecting screen and to simultaneously sound an alarm outside the bank and at police headquarters that the robbers may be trapped in the' bank until the arrival ot' the police. y 4

A further Objectis t0 provide means for releasing the door or doors to admit the police without loweringr the protecting screens..

A furtherobject is to provide slidable l windowsin the tellers cage formed of bullet proof glass adapted to be raised from the inside only to admit grips or relatively large y through the talking aperture 1n the glass packages containing securitiesl or deposits. A further object is to provideI a slidable tray to. receive the pass book and deposit of the customer which is adapted'to bev pushed through a slot in the wall of the' tellers desk from theouter office-or vice versa,-the construction being such* that the slot through which the tray passes is closed by thel walls ot the latter at'each alternate movement lof the tray. U v

-Vith theV foregoing and other ob]ects 1n View' which will appear fas the description i proceeds the invention further `resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it'being understood that'changes may be made in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed without departing from the 'spirit of the same.

In vthe accompanying drawings: Figure 1iis an elevation of the partition dividing the tellers cage from the outer bankingoces as viewed from the tellers side; showing diagrammatically a barricade scream-means means for locking-the exit doors of the bank.

` f Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view through the partition showing diagrammatically f means for actuating and releasing the barriy cade screen,and means for automatically Sounding an k,alarm `when the screen :1s released.`

Figure '3 is a detail sectional view through the barricade screen showing diagrammati- -foractuating and releasing the screen,-and

cally a switch adapted to automatically elosei an-electric circuit for sounding an alarm outside the bank, or at police headquarters simultaneously with the raising olf the barr'i cade screen.

Figure 4 is a slmilar diagrammatic view showing the electric circuit closed through the switch. y

Figure 5 is 'a fragmentary elevation of the glass partition and window of a tellers cage.

Figure 6 is a horizontal cross sectional View through the partition on or about line 6 6 of Fig. 5.v

Figure 7 is a vertical .cross-sectional view of the glass partition taken on or about line 7 7 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a vertical cross-sectional vlew partition taken on or about line 8-8 of Figure 5. -V f Figure 9 is a fragmentary elevation of one of the lazy tongs employed to raise the barricade screen showing the connection between the jointed bars of the lazy-tongs and the compressed air cylinders which serve to` actuate the same. y p

' Figure 10 is a cross-'sectlonal detail view taken on or aboutj'line 10--10 ofFigure 9.

Figure 13 is a longitudinal sectional view through the controller valve. Figure 14 is a cross-sectional View through the 'controller valve on or about line 14-14 of. Figure 13. Figure 15 is a sectional View7 through the pneumatically operated bolt and its keeper.

Referring now to the letters of reference placed upon the drawings.

A, denotes a partition wall separating the usual tellers cage from the outer oi'lice of a vbank or similar business office. B, indicates the tellers desk or counter and C the usual glass partition extending upwardly above the counter to separate the customers from the employees of the bank. D, denotes a plurality of bullet proof 'metallic screens lo- I cated back of the partition and in front of the tellers desk adapted when raised to provide a barricade between the outer otlice and the tellers cage.

E, E, indicate a plurality of jointed bars, or lazy tongs, connected preferably in pairs with the respective sections of the barricade screen. F, F, denotes a` plurality of compressed air cylinders arranged in pairs in opposing relation fitted with pistons F from which extend pistonrods F 2, connected by transverse pins f, with the downwardly the guide plates G, or to the floor-are also provided to assist in limiting t-he upward thrust of the'lazy-tongs and to support the latter when raised.

To supply the cylinders with compressed A air a storage tank H is provided located in the basement of the building or other convenient place,-the air being compressed by a suitable pump I, which may be operated Yeither by an electric motor orother source of power. I2 is a pipe leading from the compressor or pump to the tank, and I3 is a pipe leading from the compression tank to a manifold I4, preferably extending throughout the length of the tellers cages. J, J, denote a plurality of air control valves, one or more being located in each cage and when operated by the teller or other clerk serves to release the air from the manifold I4 into the manifold I5, in turn connected by pipes I6 with the respective cylinders F to actuate the pistons `F and thereby the lazy-tongs to lift the screens D. I" are manifolds into which air is delivered from the pipe I5 for delivery to the adjacent compressed cylinders F, F.

Ia denote a plurality of pressure gauges located in convenient positions whereby the tellers or other employees Amay determine at all times if the air in thel manifold is under suicient compression tofactuate the barricade screens D. The valve J, for controL ling the delivery of air may be of any convenient type but I prefer to employ a piston valve as indicated in'Figures 13 and 14 of the drawings. J is the v'alve casing secured to a suitable support. J 2 is a .piston tted at each end with suitable packing rings J3. J4 is a pist-on .rod fitted. with'a relatively long cross arm J 5 `that it may be readily operated bythe teller without shifting his position upon pressing his knee against the bar. Ja indicates the air inlet port into the valve cylinder, and J b the port through which air is delivered to the manifold and pipe I6 leading to the compressed air cylinders. Jc is the exhaust pipe of the valve chamber.

To provide for the release of air which may leak past the piston rings and thus serve'to prevent thefree movement of the piston or plunger J2.-exhaust ports Jd are provided through each end of the cylinder wall. As shown in Figures 13 and 14, the

central portion of the cylinder is provided with an annular grated wall that it may guide the piston, the slotted openings between the spaced bars providing a passage for air from the inlet port J a to the port Jb leading to the compressed air cylinder' F when the piston valve J 2 is manually shifted to the left-hand end Aof the valve cylinder.

lWhen the piston is moved to the rightsee Figure 14-the air will pass through the port- Jb and exhaust through the port JC.

K` denotes diagrammatically a revolving exit or inlet door for the bank such as are commonly used in public buildings.v N, denotes a series of pneumatically operated bolts hereafter more particularly described-adapted 'to engage the several blades of the door to secure the door against rotation. 'L is a. pipe connecting the manifold I5 with the bolts N.

M, is a three way valve provided with au exhaust port M adapted when manually rotated by the controller M to release the a'ir between the valve and the bolts that the door may be opened to admit the police, and to close against the release of air from the vmanifold I5 that the protecting screens D may'not descend when the exit doors are released. The' bolt N is fitted with a plunger N adapted to be projected into a keeper N2 secured to the respective blades of the door. N3-is an air inlet in the wall of the bolt casing, to whichv the pipe L is connected. N4 is a spring coiled around the plunger N adapted to retract the latter upon the air being exhausted from the opposite end of the chamber. N5 is a plug screwed in the wall of the casing upon removing which a threaded rod may be screwed into the tapped end i Nff of the plunger, to provide for its' forcible vwlthdrawalfrom' the keeper, should itl become bound through any cause'. P, indicates an electric switch diagrammatically shown in Eigures 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings. P is the electric circuit controlled by the switch and P2 isan electric battery orfother V open the switch P;-upon the screens being raised the switch will @automatically close (see Fig. 4) the circuit through the source of electrical supply. P2 tothe bell or bells.`

Q are dash-pots attached to the upper rail of the partition, having projecting plungers adapted to relieve the shock due to the impact of the screens when upwardly projected.

` R, is a wire adapted to carry a high tension current supported by suitable insulators may talk tothe teller or vice versa and thisv Y opening may be unobstructed ori a plate of along the top of the partition; the wire may be continuously charged. S, denotes a series of outwardly extending barbs designed to prevent anyone from scaling the topl of the partition. T, indicates a slidable tray adapted-fte be pushed beyond the glass partition to receive the deposit pass book lor other memorandum of the customer, .and

when pushed inwardly the `deposit may be removed by the teller and the book returned; the wall of the tray servingl to close the opening between the outer olfice andthe tellers cage as the tray is alternately pushed back and forth. U, indicates an opening in the bullet-proof glass of the tellers cage fitted with a slidable window U,-supported in a suitable frame U2, provided with aper- 'tures U3, to receive the ends'of'a'pair of` laterally .movablev bolts,U*, US-forced in opposite directionsby means of a Spring U5. U are thumbpieces secured to the bolts whereby they may be released from the apertures of the frame against the actionof the,k

spring. rlhe window Uf may be lowered to completely close ythe opening or not as desired. So also other means may beelnployed v.to support the window in its elevated position, however the construction lshown is considered `desirable and convenient.v V, de-

notes'an opening through which the customer laminated bullet proof glass V', maybe lol* cated in front of the opening but spaced 1 therefrom as indicated at V2 `for thepassage l' so of sound.

Having indicated thev severalA parts by reference letters the construction and operation of the device will be now more'fuly eX- lained. v

- Should anyone attempt to vhold up the teller or other employee of the bank any of the employees may instantly release the metallic rscreens D, by shifting'. the position of l the plunger in they valve J.' so that it may admit air from the V`compression tank into the manifold I5 and thence tothe compresas willbe readily understood.v It will also be noted that the link connections E2, E2

and E3, Es'engaging the lazy-tongs-will serve to limit the movement of the latter. vSimultaneous with the upward movement ofthe screens the plungers of the locks on the several exit doors will be thrown, thereby trapping the robbers until the arrival of the po1ice,- the latter being simultaneously notified through the synchronously operated alarm at police headquarters and upon the outside' Vof thebuilding. Upon the arival of the police, the bolts engaging thedoors may be xv released for their admission by manually op- Lerating the valve M, the air between they valve and the door bolts being thus exhausted that the springs N? may retract the bolts.

When it is desired to lower the .screens D to their 'normal position the air under compressionV between the cylinders F and the control `valves J is exhausted through the port J, -by manually* shifting the piston J2,fhe screens thereupon will descend by gravity to their initial position that they may be again operated when required'.

By providing pressure gauges' at intervals` throughoutthe length of the air delivery n manifold the employees of the banking oice will be' ableto determine at all times if the device is in lproper working condition.l

It will also be understood that the operation of any one of the control valves J will serve to actuate all of the screens, thus if certain of the employees of the bank are prevented frorn operating the -valve nearest to them or are unaware of impending dangerotheremployees even though remotely situated niay actuate the screens by'means of the control valve nearest to them.

By providing a wire atthe top lof the partition dividing the outer oflice` from the tellers cages, 'carrying'a` high tension circuit the employees' lare.protected from anyone attempting to scale the partition to bank. j

12o threaten the lives of the clerksor to rob the y Having thus describedmy invention what l partition having a solid lower portion, a

screen 'normally located at .the Y,solid lower.

porton'of the partition and reciprocatablei verticallyto cover or barricade, the 'upperi 130 portion of the partition and to uncover same, lazy-tongshaving one end connected with said screen, a plurality of cylinders, a 'iston and piston rod for each cylinder, the ower links of the other end of the lazytongs being pivotally connected to the piston rods, an air tank, means for delivering air fromthe tank to the cylinders and means controlling the delivery of air between the tank and the cylinders.

2. In 'a safety device for banks of the character described, provided with a front partition having a solid lower portion, a metallic screen normally located at the solid lower portion of the partition and reciprocatable vertically to cover or barricade-the upper portion of the partition and to uncover the same, a plurality oflazy-tongs connected with the screen, a plurality of cylinders operably connected with the lazytongs, a stationary member, links connecting thestationary member to the lazy-tongs for limiting the movement of the lazy-tongs, an air tank, means for delivering air under pressure to said tank, means for delivering `air from the tank to said cylinders, and a manually operated valve for controlling the elivery of air between the tank and cyliners.

3. In a safet device for banks of the character descri ed, a partition wall having a solid lower portion, a metallic screen normally located adjacent to the lower solid portion of the wall and reciprocatable vertically to cover or barricade the upper portion of the partitioni and to uncover the same, a plurality of lazy-tongs connected with said, screen, a plurality of air cylinders operably connected writh said lazy-,

tongs, an air tank, means for maintaining air under pressure in said tank, means for delivering airl from the tank to said cylinders to actuate the screen, a piston valve adapted to control the delivery of air between thel tank and cylinders, and a dashpot adapted to be engaged by the screens when near the end of their upward movement for cushioning the impact of said screens when raised.

4. In a safety device for banks of the f character described, provided with a partition having a solid lower portion, a metallic screen'normally located at the solid lower portion of the partition and reciprocatable vertically to cover or barricade the upperv portion of the partition and to uncover they tion having a solidlower portion, a metal- Y lic screen reciprocatable vertically to cover or barricade the upper portion of the partition and to uncover the: same, a plurality of cylinders, means for connecting the screen with the pistons of said cylinders, an exit door, a pneumatically operated bolt adapted' to secure said door, a storage tank, suitable piping adapted to deliver air to said cylinders and to the bolt, a manually operated valve for controlling the delivery of airto said cylinder and bolt, a second valve ada-pted to release the air controllin the operaI tion of the bolt while holding alr maintaining the pistons of the cylinder under' compression, and means for automatically releasing said bolt upon exhausting the air employed to actuate the bolt. l

6. In a safety device for banks of the character described, provided with a partition having a solid lower portion, a metallic screen reciprocatable vertically to cover or barricade the upper portion of the partition and to uncover the same, a plurality of cylinders, means for connecting the metallic-screen with the pistons of said cylinders, a compressed air tank, means for delivering air under pressure into said tank, a manifold, suitable piping connecting the vvtankA with the` manifold, a second manifold, pip- 'ing connecting the first manifold with the second manifold, a plurality of manually operated valves severallyv adapted to control the delivery of air to the second manifold, piping connecting the second manifold with the cylinders, exit doors, al plurality `of pneu- Amatically operated bolts adapted to secure said doors, a pipe connection between the second manifold and said bolts and a valve adapted to exhaust the air between the valve and the bolts, to release the exit doors and to close against the escape of air from the manifold, whereby the screen may be maintained in its elevated position.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

l y VERNON J..PRICE. Witnees: f

S. E. THOMAS, v' JOHN CoNsIDINE. 

